Homemade Little Debbie Star Crunch — These treats are very dense, extra chewy, the flavor is caramely and rich, and the milk chocolate coating makes them taste just like a Star Crunch! No-bake, fast, and so authentic!!
Better-Than-Little-Debbie Star Crunch
I’m a Little Debbie freak. There’s not one version or variety that I don’t love.
These copycat Little Debbie Star Crunch are everything I hoped to achieve. The flavor is right on with the buttery caramel, crispy rice cereal, and milk chocolate.
They’re incredibly dense and chewy. They remind me of my favorite Rice Krispies Treats, which are dense, thick, chewy, and not at all airy or loose.
But the Star Crunch have caramel and Rice Krispies Treats don’t, and I do love caramel.
What Is Star Crunch?
If you’ve never had a Star Crunch, you’ve been missing out. Trying to describe Star Crunch for someone who’s never had them is hard.
Their site describes them as, “A chewy cookie topped with caramel and crisp rice then covered in a layer of fudge.” Yes, but that sounds a bit underwhelming.
I would describe them as what you’d get if you made Rice Krispies Treats with caramel rather than marshmallows, and packed it extremely tight so that the density level is off the charts.
In many ways, the flavors remind me of a 100 Grand Bar. Crispy rice, caramel gooeyness, and milk chocolate. I love 100 Grand Bars, too. At least I’m consistent in my preferences!
Ingredients for Homemade Star Crunch
For this DIY Star Crunch recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Kraft caramel bits
- Unsalted butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Milk chocolate
- Vegetable shortening
Tip
Store-bought Star Crunch don’t have marshmallows in them, but adding them was the only way I could achieve enough fluff and lightness without making the treats airy or dry. They also add proper density and chewiness.
The finished treats don’t read of marshmallows at all. There’s not enough quantity used and they’re a behind-the-scenes workhorse to help create all the texture qualities I was looking, minus imparting any real flavor.
How to Make Star Crunch
I am so pleased with how the homemade Star Crunch recipe turned out! They’re remarkably similar to the real thing and no-bake.
I’ll warn you that it’s lots of microwaving in short bursts, stirring, reheating, stirring, repeating, but you can handle that.
- Begin by melting one eleven-ounce bag of Kraft Caramel Bits. Heat in short bursts so you don’t scorch the caramels, stirring and mashing them after each burst.
- To the soft caramels, add the butter, heat for a minute to melt the butter, and stir to incorporate.
- Add mini marshmallows and heat to melt them. As they’re heated, they’ll puff and swell rather than turn into a runny liquid, but finally they’ll become soft enough to smash down into something that’s on the runnier side.
- Add the Rice Krispies cereal, and stir to combine.
- Spray your hands with cooking spray and reach into the mixing bowl and form 11 equal-sized patties.
- Place the discs on a baking tray or large plate and allow them to cool and set up for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before dipping them in chocolate.
Tip
The first three ingredients (butter, caramels, marshmallows) won’t appear to want to melt or combine and you’ll be cursing me — but just trust in the process and do your best to melt and combine ingredients. The recipe WILL work!
Recipe FAQs
I used Kraft caramel bits because I didn’t want to unwrap 11 ounces of caramels one by one — the Bits because they’re a huge time saver!
If your only option is to unwrap a bag of caramels, have fun.
Do NOT use caramel ice cream sauce, caramel topping, or anything that’s already in liquid form because it’s too thin and runny and won’t give authentic density in the finished bars.
I don’t know if you could make the Star Crunch on the stove top and prefer the microwave whenever possible. However, if you don’t have a microwave try melting everything on the stove and see how it turns out!
Milk chocolate is the way to go for authenticity and I used one bag of milk chocolate chips, 12 ounces.
I strongly recommend adding a tablespoon or two of vegetable shortening (Crisco) when melting the chocolate. It does wonders for helping the chocolate stay smoother and makes dipping much, much easier.
You don’t have to go out and buy shortening for this, and in general, I don’t like shortening. I always swap butter for shortening, even in recipes where it says to use shortening, but for dipping projects shortening is a huge help.
I also recommend not melting all of the chocolate in one go. I heated half in the microwave with shortening, dipped half the discs; then finished the project by heating the remaining half. When working with melted chocolate and dipping projects, working in smaller batches proves easier so the chocolate doesn’t start setting up and getting gloppy and hard to work with.
Dip the discs, one by one, into the chocolate bath. I balance them with two forks, so the excess chocolate can drain off through the fork tines. Let the chocolate drain off well over the bowl before placing the disc on a parchment-lined baking sheet or large tray, otherwise you’ll waste lots of chocolate to the parchment paper.
The beauty of shortening while dipping is that it keeps the chocolate looser and resistant to setting up.
Pin This Recipe
Homemade Little Debbie Star Crunch
These treats are very dense, extra chewy, the flavor is caramely and rich, and the milk chocolate coating makes them taste just like a Star Crunch! No-bake, fast, and so authentic!!
Ingredients
- one 11-ounce bag Kraft Caramel Bits or 11 ounces caramels
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (half of one stick)
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows (half of one standard 10-ounce bag)
- 4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- one 12-ounce bag (2 cups) milk chocolate chips, melted for dipping
- 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with a Silpat liner or parchment paper, set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the caramel bits and microwave on high power to soften and melt, about 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to check and stir. The caramels don't melt into a smooth, thin sauce like caramel ice cream sauce; instead they're the consistency of natural peanut butter that's a bit loose and oily. As long as they're softened and somewhat melted, that's fine.
- Add the butter to the caramels, and heat on high power to melt the butter, about 1 minute. Stir the butter and caramel together to combine; the butter will pool and may be difficult to incorporate and it's okay if there's some pooling.
- Add the marshmallows and heat to melt them, about 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to check and stir to combine. Marshmallows will swell and puff and after about 2 minutes of intermittent heating, they should be sufficiently soft enough to stir into the butter-caramel mixture. Quickly and briefly fold to combine.
- While the mixture is still nice and hot, add the cereal and stir to combine, mixture will cool down and firm up quickly.
- Spray your hands with cooking spray or grease them with butter and form 3-inch diameter discs that are about 1-inch tall (I made 11). The batter will be warm but cool enough to handle easily; if yours is too warm, wait until it cools sufficiently to handle it to shape the discs.
- Place discs on prepared baking sheet sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and allow them to firm up for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before dipping them in chocolate.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate and shortening (helps chocolate stay much smoother and for a longer period and highly recommend), and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute. Heat in 15-second bursts, stopping to check and stir after each, until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Note - I find it easier and more convenient to melt half chocolate and shortening now, and after it's been used, heat the remainder; that way chocolate stays warm, smooth, and easier to work with.
- Dip discs into chocolate one by one, and let chocolate drain off over the bowl, before returning coated discs to a parchment-lined tray. I find it easiest to balance the discs with two forks, that way the chocolate can drain off through the tines.
- Allow treats to set up and cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (the shortening will be resistant to setting up at room temperature).
Notes
Caramel bits are already unwrapped and convenient. You may also use regular caramels, probably 30 to 40+ unwrapped. Do NOT use caramel ice cream sauce because it's too thin.
Storage: After chocolate has set, treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
11Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 454Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 230mgCarbohydrates: 74gFiber: 2gSugar: 58gProtein: 4g
More Easy No-Bake Treats:
No-Bake Cornflake Peanut Butter Bars — Peanut butter is used 3 times in these rich, soft, and very chewy Cornflake bars! It’s a no-bake dessert that’s made using just one bowl!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bars— Can’t decide if you want PB or chocolate? Make these easy no-bake fudge bars! Chocolate + PB is sooo irresistible!!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Bars — These peanut butter candy bars are no-bake, easy, loaded with bold peanut butter flavor, and plenty of chocolate. They’re super soft, very dense, and chewy!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Special K Bars — These fast, easy, no-bake bars are a hybrid of some of my favorite bars, which include peanut butter, marshmallows, cereal and are held together with a brown sugar-caramel sauce that’s made in the microwave in 1 bowl.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chex Bars — SO EASY, NO-BAKE, and ready in FIVE minutes!! Chex cereal, pretzels, and M&Ms glued together with peanut butter and marshmallows!! An IRRESISTIBLE salty-sweet combination!!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars – Easy, no-bake recipe that’s full of peanut butter and topped with chocolate and Kit Kat Bars!
No-Bake White Chocolate Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bars – EASY, no-bake bars that are soft, chewy, supremely GOOEY, spiked with extra marshmallows, and white chocolate!! An IRRESISTIBLE hit with everyone!!
It is so cool that you were able to recreate these!
Thank you!
I was thinking of trying this but with Coco-pebbles, has anyone tried that? It was the first thing I thought of because the chocolate rice used on the star crunch.
Would be interesting to make texture, color, flavor comparisons(!): http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2016/05/copycat-star-crunch-no-bake-cookie-recipe.html
I haven’t had Star Crunch since I was a kid. I bought some recently and they were so good. My 4 & 2 year old girls thought they were amazing too. I attempted to recreate them at home and the results were definitely NOT Star Crunch but it was edible and a yummy treat. Haha! Then I found this recipe and gave it a try. They turned out terrific! Oh. My. Goodness! So yummy. I had quite a bit of chocolate left over so I poured it over some Ritz crackers.. Bonus treat! Thanks for all of your trial and error batches so you could share the recipe with us. This is definitely a keeper recipe for me and will be made many more times!
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad it came out great for you!
I’ve never attempted to make them myself, but I do enjoy star crunch. However, I do believe that at the center, there should be some sort of molasses-based oatmeal cookie. Perhaps the cookie, then a coating of caramel, followed by puffed rice mixed into melted chocolate.
Update! Ok so I made them exactly and at first they were way hard but I guess they just needed a while longer than I had first assumed of sitting at room temperature because after about a day of sitting in some pyrex containers they were the right texture. And they were amazingly good. So good I have to actively stop myself from making them too often to avoid sugar overload. I guess I just wasn’t patient enough so ignore my first comment! They’re great :D
Wonderful, thanks for the update, and glad you love them!
I followed the recipe exactly and they did not turn out like star crunch. Part of what makes star crunch so good is the chewy texture and these were too hard to be similar and they didn’t really taste like star crunch. They were good just not star crunch good. :(
Because all microwaves (and ingredients) vary so much in the way their heat and output levels, I’m thinking you cooked just a bit too long if yours were too hard and not chewy. Mine definitely come out with the same texture as a Star Crunch and I recommend a bit less time in the micro if you try again. Glad you enjoyed them and thought they were still good.
please sign me up for your news letters thank you
I have been wanting to make homemade starcrunch for quite some time. Several years ago, I tried to make some but they did not turn out. I had made them in a pan like bars instead of cookies. The reason they flopped was because my older sister was helping me and she didn’t know that she needed to add something to the melted caramels in order to keep them soft. So, they turned out ROCK hard. They were good, but barely edible. Today, I decided I want to try and make them again. So, I looked up a recipe for them, to see if there was anything special you had to do. However, in every recipe I’ve seen, there’s something missing. Maybe you mentioned it and I just missed it. But, all the store bought starcrunch that I’ve had has a thin brownie in the middle if it! Did you exclude that on purpose and I just missed why? I think I am going to make some without a recipe and I’ll post the results on Instagram @roseonajourney later today. I don’t have caramels on hand, so I will definitely consider using your caramel recipe! Thank you!
Did you exclude that on purpose and I just missed why? — I didn’t include it because it was an extra step and in the effort to keep these no-bake and easier for the avg person, I omitted it.
I’m a teenager and just made these beauties and I’m very impressed with the closeness of the recipe! I think to overcome the “blondeness” of the inside and extra thick coating of chocolate on the outside, you could try mixing in the melted chips with the caramel before the cereal! That way they’d look like a star crunch on the inside and you could see pieces of rice sticking out of the outside like a true star crunch!
Thanks for trying these, Zach! I am so impressed that you’re a teenage male AND you’re baking! That is so awesome!
Glad you enjoyed these and appreciate how close they are to the real deal. Great call on how you disguised the blonde-ness. I also think using Cocoa Krispies rather than regular would probably help. Next time I make these, I’m going to try that. Or maybe a dusting of cocoa powder to the filling mixture, just to tint it a bit.
I’m a creative mind. Food just happens to be one of those outlets. I don’t believe the culinary arts only apply to females :) Thanks for your recipe and response!
Reading the ingredients for a star crunch it has oatmeal and raisins or raisin paste in the filling. Your recipe sounds really yummy too. It kinda makes me wanna play in the kitchen
I can’t wait to make these. I have a thought for the darker color maybe try the cocoa rice crispies instead of the regular.
Cocoa Krispies would be the ticket here!
I just happened upon these, Averie. I guess I missed them the first time around. Love this idea! I’m looking forward to trying out this recipe. Happy new year!
Thanks, Jennifer! I love all your recipes and am always seeing your stuff all over Pinterest! :)
This just kind of makes me smile – How can you not though thinking back to eating those as a kid!
Thank you for this recipe! I love Little Debbie Star Crunch, but have a nut allergic child so I haven’t been able to share the goodness with my children. With this recipe, I should be able to make the closest thing possible to them that will be safe to share with my children
Wonderful – enjoy!
Looks good!! But what about the cookie in the middle of the star crunch?? :/ I will definitely have to try this out :)
If you come up with something, LMK!
Hi Averie,
If you will omit about a Tablesponn of melted caramels, and substitute it with a Tablespoon of mild Baking Molasses, that will give you the “flavor ” and darker colour in the crunchy middle.
That’s what I do, and the flavor of Little Debbie Star Crunch is then EXACT.. Try it, let me know.. Blessings, Mary C.
Interesting idea! Thanks for the tip!
Oh My. I was raised on Little Debbie in my lunchbox (oatmeal sandwiches or swiss rolls) and lived on these and Nutty Bars in college (Nutty bars were like $0.25 a package in the campus store) and felt guilty every time I looked at the ingredients – awesome to have a better option! If you’ve lived in an area that has Drake’s – I also highly recommend Funny Bones – I bet they’d be super easy to copycat, and now I think I have a mission for my next baking day (they’re chocolate Twinkies with creamy peanut butter filling, dipped in chocolate).
Wow, your baking project sounds delicious! Wish I was having that :)
OH MY GOD IM A LITTLE DEBBIE LOVAHHH I LOVE COSMICS I WILL SELL YOU MY HOUSE FOR THE COSMIC RECIPIE iM YELLING STAR CRUNCH IS ONE OF MY FAVES but i ADORE THE HOLIDAY CLASSICS PLS GIMME ALL OF DEM HEART COMSICS IM FROM THE SOUTH AND I NEED MY COSMIC FIX XOXOXOXOXOX LEA MICHELE FOR EVER I LOVE YOU ALL OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG IM CR4YING 4EVA I
So glad that you LOVE LOVE Star Crunch as much as I do! LMK when you make them what you think!
Oh my gosh! I’d completely forgotten about Star Crunch until I saw your post…and then I instantly flashed back to the 4th grade lunchroom, savoring the little treat my mom used to pack for me. These were always one of my favorites and I haven’t had one in years–interestingly enough, now I’m craving one. :-)
4th grade lunchroom memories for me too with the Star Crunches! :)
I love a recipe that instructs you to grease your hands with butter. :)
I pretty much lived on Little Debbie from age 5 to 15, not even kidding! I went through phases of my favorites but I think my all-time top 2 were swiss cake rolls and star crunch! I can’t believe you remade the star crunch, I need to try this recipe… it would be perfect for the super bowl, actually!
OK, now you need to master Nutty Bars… now THAT is a challenge!
I am so glad you not only know what Star Crunch are, but that you’re a huge fan! And Swiss Cake Rolls, S.C., and Nutty Bars are my faves. Okay, and Cosmic Brownies. Greasing your hands with butter is the only way to handle that sticky cereal! My skin was well-moisturized :)
Ok, Star Crunch are probably my very favorite Little Debbie treat!! I am so going to make these!
Thanks for the Pins! And if you like the Little Debbie version, these are going to make you so happy! And they’re no-bake, a nice bonus :) Your kids will love them, too!
Oh my gosh…my very favorite of favorites! I can’t wait to make them :)
Mine too! And I had never seen an at-home recipe for any so had to create one!
Thanks for introducing me to the Star Crunch, Averie. I’ve never heard of them before. I don’t think Little Debbie products are sold in Canada because I’ve never seen one. These sound fabulous and look delish. I love reading your posts so much – it’s like having a chef in my kitchen telling me exactly what to do and expect. All of your insight and instructions are much appreciated!
I’m so glad you like all my insights and instructions. I figure if someone is going to make the recipe, I may as well tell them what to expect, what I know, etc. rather than rambling on about my kid, my dog, my workout, etc. with like 2 sentences devoted to the actual recipe :)
i have not had a star crunch in forever…but i can remember exactly the bite of crunch and caramel and chocolate in them…this would be such a fun treat for the kiddos and friends…these have that extra wow yum factor…can’t wait to try.
I am so glad you know the treat and they’re even better now than they were back then!
These look insane, Averie! You never fail to astound me. I think star crunches were my second favorite years ago, but I think if I had one now, it would take the top spot.
Well thank you! And I bet this would trump your memory…it sort of trumped mine!
O.K…you’re killing me! My husband is ALSO a star crunch freak. So now I have TWO food projects…and I don’t know which to make first. :)
Hmmm, tough call between these and the cookies…make them both :) They’re both easy!
Oh these looking super delish! I love a homemade twist on a childhood classic.
OMG, I loved these growing up!!! Will have to definitely give these a try! YUM! And these are no-bake? You amaze me! :) I seriously LOVE all of your sweet treats!
The best kind of treat…no-bake!
These look awesome Avery! Guess where I am headed on Monday? Chaska ;)
Small world :)
I have never had Star Crunch before and I’m really not all that familiar with Little Debbie (my parents were pretty anti all packaged treats), but these look delicious! Sort of like chocolate-dipped rice krispie treats, but better I’m sure :)
” Sort of like chocolate-dipped rice krispie treats, but better I’m sure ” <-- exactly!!
you’re a genius! I used to love these, but quit buying Little Debbie a long time ago. This is an awesome alternative! My kids will be so excited b/c they always want the pre-packaged snacks when we go shopping. These and Fudge Rounds were my favorite :-) I’ve made “twix” candy bars at home, but that’s about it. They were delicious!
You have absolutely made my day lady! I Loooove Star Crunch…im so excited about this recipe …i can’t wait to try it! I have been searching for a recipe for a homemade version forever now and your right there aren’t a whole lot of the out there. Thanx so much!
Well if you try them, LMK!
Averie, love this stuff! Is there a way to reduce the butter factor and use any other ingredient, e.g. organic vegitable oil? Your opinion is much appreciated!
Try it and see!
I’ve never had Star Crunches but I do love me some Nutty Bars! Man those things are good.
The homemade Butterfingers are delicious — I made those at Christmas time and took them to a family get-together…didn’t have any left to bring home, darn it!
So glad you made them and that they were a big hit!
I was a Little Debbie fanatic myself!- Probably because I wasn’t allowed to have sweets very often. Star Crunches, it’s been so long… too long. Yours look even better than the original! Love that texture. :)
I was obsessed with Star Crunch in middle school. I have to make these. Strange thing, I think I remember reading the ingredients once and there were weird things like puréed raisins in there. These actually sound better.
I never really thought about the Star Crunches as rice krispies, but I can see it now. When I was younger, I was a Little Debbie connoisseur. My favorites were Nutty Bars and HoHos by a HUGE margin. Then Ding Dongs, and then everything else. The Twinkies, the Oatmeal Creme Pies, the Star Crunches, I actually don’t think I liked them very much. They were too plain for me. Now, I am all about subtle sweets, not in your face.
I wonder why no one has tried to make Nutty Bars? Too involved, probably.
I never add anything to my melted chocolate, but I do buy the special melting chocolate that comes in those HUGE bricks around the holidays. It probably has some oil or shortening in there already to do the same thing. When we dip candies, we put them on wax paper and throw them out on the deck outside. Takes about 2 seconds to firm up. Negative 28 is cold.
I never ate many Little Debbie treats and have never heard of these. They certainly look amazing! I bet the filling alone would make a great Rice Krispies like treat.
Averie – you need to open a bakery…preferably in Jacksonville, Florida! :) Your recipes always look fabulous!
Aww, thanks, Ashley!
I forgot about this Little Debbie treat! Your version looks fantastic! You can’t go wrong with caramel, rice krispies and chocolate!
I’ve never heard of or had a Star Crunch and now I’m sad because you make me want one! Luckily I have a recipe. :)
i’ve never had a star crunch before!! are we still friends?? I feel like a huge loser! but I am no stranger to LD, obviously! LOVE nutty bars so much. Wow, I forgot about them for awhile. And cosmic brownies… amazing too! OCP steal my heart. :)
These look and sounds amazing Averie. Caramel reigns queen when compared with chocolate (besides peanut butter of course). I am so impressed, you covered them so beautifully in chocolate! and considering how much i LOVE rice krispie treats, I know I’d devour these with a huge chocolatey smile. I want one right now. I need chocolate!!
No way…you’re never had a Star Crunch? They are amazing! Dense, super chewy, tons of texture, chocolate, caramel…they’re the super crunchy and super chewy antithesis of a soft, flimsy, and fabulous OCP. Opposite ends of the texture spectrum but so good! And being that I love love love RKTreats, too – they were perfect :)
oh wow Averie! You are SO creative!!
Grrr silly iPhone. What I was going to say.. Is that star crunch needs to hire you on their marketing team. Your explanation is way simpler and not so overwhelming for sure. These look fabulous!
St
Oh my goodness, these are my weakness!! They look so delicious, Averie!
I must make these! I like the store bought ones, but have grown to dislike the cheap taste they have. These will be homemade perfection! :D
That cheap taste, I do know what you mean!
I’ve never had (or heard of) a Star Crunch, but these look pretty delightful to me!
You know… I’ve never had a star crunch :-( and I feel instantly deprived! I’m making a batch of these this weekend! We’re having friends in town who have a few kids, so I’ll pretend I didn’t make them ALL for me.
LMK how they go over!
HOLY. COW. I am so making these! I loved Star Crunches as a kid! I remember when my grandma would get them from the store, I had to be suuuuper sneaky in order to snatch a few extra when she wasn’t looking. Each crunchy, marshmallow-y, caramel-filled bite was absolutely delicious. I need to recreate that memory with these easy, homemade ones!
Hayley you’re going to love them. If you’re already a S.C. fan, then these are just like the best things since sliced bread. If you try them, please LMK how it goes!
OMG! I’m having huge flashbacks Averie. I loved Little Debbie Star Crunches. I loved the crispy and chewy center. I’m going to have to make these for my kids so they can have a taste of my childhood. I use to throw a pack of these in my lunch and couldn’t wait to finish off my healthy stuff so I could dive into one of these. I also love that they’re no bake and something that both kids can help me make! Great job girl! Happy Tuesday that feels like Monday, am I right? xoxo, Jackie
I am so glad you know what S.C.’s are! So many people don’t! I was all excited to share them with both Scott and Skylar, too, so that they could taste my childhood. Same as you!
Averie–this is amazing!! Star Crunch is the treat of my childhood. I havent had one in a million years but I will have to try and make these! So many of my friends here in NJ have never had one (nor heard of the good ole star crunch!)Great post!
So glad you know what S.C.’s are! So many people don’t I’m realizing! I was all excited to share them with my hubs/child so that they could taste my childhood. Same as you! LMK if you make them!
I’ve never had Star Crunch either but if there’s caramel and chocolate involved, I’m in! :)
Thanks for the Pin, too! :)
I have never heard of these, maybe we don’t get them in Canada? Regardless, these look like they incorporate all my favourite things…caramel, rice krispie treats, and milk chocolate, yum!
Confession time: I’ve never had a Little Debbie snack. Ever. But I have a little feeling that that’s about to change. I just love the ease of this recipe, and how crunchy and sweet the finished product looks. What a lovely little treat!
Wait hold the phone. WHAT???!!!! I am baffled and in both shock and awe. That’s like saying you’ve never had water to me b/c I lived on those things growing up. You have got to go buy a couple boxes of them and have a few. Then give them away…they’re addicting :)
OMG!! I totally forgot about these! I used to be addicted to these as a kid! I’m so glad you reminded me about them, and now I have to make them!
And if you try them, LMK!
LOVE the name & CruNCH of these little treats!
much better, way better than little debbie
no chemicals!
good job girl!
Thanks and the flavor is spot on which is what I love the most about them :)
I haven’t had a Star Crunch since I was a kid! Yum!
I can see you loving them, too. I was suuuuuuch a huge fan. I bet we were both eating our fair share in like 1986 :)
My mom never bought us store bought treats, but every now and then I snuck one of these during lunch at school… I can’t wait to make these! Great superbowl party recipe.
Thanks,
Reba
Please LMK if you try them for the game!
I love Little Debbie! I swear, those Oatmeal Pies where my go-to in college. and then there were these little frosted snack cake guys that I couldn’t stop eating.
I love your version, these I could eat all day long.
Girl those white little frosted snack cakes, and sometimes they’d have holiday editions, i.e. Xmas tree shapes, Valentines/hearts, Easter bunny shapes…Id buy the closeouts on sale after the holiday. Great dorm room food in the day! I could seriously eat a box of OCPies in a day if I let myself. Love them!
I REMEMBER THESE!!! You and Sally have both totally taken me back to my childhood this week with these Little Debbie recipes! These look so perfect!!
It was too funny when she posted that recipe because I had already had these made, shot, and ready to go. I usually only post my new recipes on weekdays and so when I saw hers on Sunday, I was like..just wait til Tuesday and it’s not a holiday :)
Umm, how have I never heard of a Star Crunch?! I looove how simple this recipe is. Fewer ingredients = cheaper = I can make more batches. Yesssss.
When we were young, we would buy Hostess cupcakes and the ding dongs and take them out of the box and place them in the freezer. Then, after school, we would eat them frozen and the cream inside was cold and firm and we appreciated how much longer it took to eat them than if they were not frozen! Twinkies were not a fav in our house, however.
Considering the fact that my family was most likely the cornerstone of Hostess chocolate cupcakes affluence, it is ratger surprising that I have not even heard of Little Debbie products, or Star Crunch, before. Those little babies look mighty tasty, though, I must say! I love how incredibly dense and chewy they look! What a fun treat to try and make…on the list to try soon! :-)
If you love ho-ho’s, dingdongs, etc. this is just another riff on the theme. Not chocolate, but same nostalgic qualities. I can’t believe you’ve never had them…or even heard of Little Debbie. If you try these, LMK. And yes, freezing twinkies or dingdongs makes the filling get almost like ice creamy-ish and slows down the rapid rate of mass consumption!
I loved nutty bars and oatmeal crime pies growing up and my stepdaughter always wanted the cosmic brownies when she was younger. I’ve never had the star crunch bars but caramel, chocolate, rice krispies and marshmallow HAS to be good. You do a great job coming up with re-creations–I love the nostalgia associated with them!
Nutty Bars. I almost don’t even want to try to do a remake of those. Those flaky layers would be tricky but really, the choc + PB combo would be so irresistible! My brownie recipe that I linked is pretty darn close to Cosmic Brownies. Add the ganache from my Perfect Chocolate Cake recipe, sprinkles, done :)
That was my first question too: what’s a star crunch?! Now that I know, I’ll never forget. Probably because I’ll be daydreaming about them for the next 7 weeks.
They are crazy good, Jenn! I can’t believe you’ve never had a real S.C. Better, really, that you’ve never even had one :)
Oh, my stars! Averie…you are a dangerous, dangerous woman! These look sooooo good! I just adored those Little Debbie Star Crunch and Nutty Bar snacks as a kid. I was working with rice cereal & chocolate yesterday, too, for an upcoming recipe. Great minds snack alike! xoxo
Nutty Bars, OCPies, Star Crunch, those little white snack cakes, cosmic brownies. Big time fan. Can’t wait to see what you made yesterday!
Wow – I’ve never had the original, but these look and sound amazing!!
I’m a Little Debbie freak too, but I must admit that I’ve never had Star Crunch! I feel like I’m missing out. Your version looks amazing, and I always love a good no-bake recipe. I have some left over Kraft caramel bits from holiday baking, so I think I know how I’ll use them up! Thanks for another great recipe, Averie!
I had had my Bits since the late summer when apple season was just coming in, thinking I was going to make all these caramel apple recipes. Whoops :)
I have never HEARD of these – learn something new every day!
I didn’t grow up with Little Debbie, meaning I never saw them in stores until … college? Maybe they just made it out West by then? I have seen the oatmeal cookies and nutty bars, but THIS looks like the best thing, by far!
I grew up with boatloads of it, in Minnesota. And every state I’ve ever lived in from South Carolina to Arizona to Cali sells them. You kind of have to look for them in store nowadays but when I was a kid, they were front and center on the shelf :)
I am a Little Debbie lover! This is something I could sink mu teeth into!
I used to LOVE these things! I also went crazy for oatmeal cream pies, the best!
Averie! I forgot all about Star Crunch until just now….and now I need one, ha! These look perfect. I’m going to try these – after skinny January :)
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I haven’t thought about those in eons. Loved them. I grew up as a Little Debbie kid ;-)
You owe it to yourself with everything you have going on lately to make these and enjoy :)
I love Star Crunch. Used to. Still do. These look so good Averie!
And you probably can’t get them where you’re living now…and this is an easy nobake version in that heat you’re in, too!
Oh my gosh I am so excited about these!!!! Star Crunch is my guy’s absolute favorite!
But there’s a problem. A few weeks ago my microwave kicked the bucket. And since I rarely use it I’ve opted not to replace it for awhile…
What’s a girl to do?
Buy a new one. Target $89 bucks. Or $25 on Craigslist :) That’s what I would do….ha!
Aw I remember eating those as a kid! Mom used to pack them in our lunches! These are treats I actually didn’t trade with my friends. ;)
I NEVER traded these, either. Or my Fruit Roll-Ups :)
I’ve never had Star Crunch before, but after reading through this recipe I am DOWN. These are too cute, and seem like such fun treats to eat! I’m also very intrigued with the butterfingers recipe… I L.O.V.E. butterfingers!
Oh, Little Debbie . . . such great brown-bag lunchtime memories there! If my mom slipped a Nutty Buddy bar or Oatmeal Pie in my lunch, all was right in my little world. :)
I also have never heard of Star Crunch, but they look amazing!
Growing up in Germany marshmallows and rice krispie treats weren’t a big thing, but we would make cereal bars with honey crunch or other breakfast cereals and using melted caramels as ‘glue’. To this day I love this more than marshmallow ‘glue’.
And what could possibly be wrong with adding chocolate to this whole goodness?
Funny, I never have seen Star Crunch before. I used to straight up lust after Nutty Bars growing up. My parents never bought them so I’d be jealous of friends whose families did.
Never got to into Hostess products, which is fortunate considering once I became a veg I couldn’t eat most of them because they had gelatin…
I love Nutty Bars. It’s good that I haven’t tried to recreate them. They could be dangerous!